A-levels: Kirsty Williams welcomes 'strong' results

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams has welcomed a strong set of A-level results but said she will continue to strive for improvements.

The proportion of A* and A grades is 25% - 2.7% higher than 2016. The 8.3% of A* grades is the best since 2010 when it was introduced.

This year sees results for 14 new "reformed" A-level courses for the first time.

But the number of entries, 33,294, is the lowest for more than a decade.

Ms Williams said the exams watchdog would be looking at what the reasons might be, beyond just a fall in the population.